f1

Formula one is something of a dream for any young speed demon. The reason for this is simply that Formula One is at present the pinnacle of motor racing on the planet. A driver in F1 gets to touch speeds well beyond 300 kilometers per hour and this is exactly why most speed enthusiasts want to become such speed merchants. However, becoming an F1 driver is much more complicated than it may seem to you initially.

Becoming an F1 driver takes a lot of commitment and determination along with a lot of skill and raw talent. In fact, most F1 drivers tend to start at a very young age and compromise a lot to truly realize their dreams. Hence, before you start reading how a person can become an F1 driver, you need to realize that it requires unbelievable amounts of devotion. Here is a step by step guide.

Step I:
The first step to becoming a F1 driver is to get involved in racing at a very young age. A good deal of Formula One drivers started out as kart drivers in local or regional leagues with the help of their local karting schools or clubs. This has to happen at a very young age and while some teenagers have been known to achieve something, the majority of people have to start well below the age of 10.

Step II:
Even though people think that racing is all about racing, this is not the case because racing involves some education as well. If you want to be a F1 driver then you would need to get some formal training on how to handle powerful open wheel cars from racing schools in the country. There are numerous well reputed schools in the country that should set you on your way fairly conveniently.

Step III:
Focusing on Europe would immediately improve your chances of being a F1 driver. The longer you display your skills in Europe, the better your chances will be of being noticed by the scouts from some major formula one championship teams.

Step IV:
At the end of the day, you would have to consistently show that you have the talent and skills to make it in F1 for you to be noticed by any F1 professionals. Although there is no substitute for great skill behind the wheel and a lot of points and podium finishes, you should also get a reliable and experienced agent who would be able to capitalize on your successes on the track.

Step V:
A lot of drivers start out as test drivers for F1 teams before actually graduating into championship drivers. In fact, this is a good strategy because it would allow you to learn about the cars and tracks, before you can actually get into proper racing.

Step VI:
The final step for you to become a Formula One driver is to get sponsorship. While driving for Ferrari or McLaren may be your dream, you would most probably have to start through smaller teams. Such teams have poor finances which is why they appreciate sponsored drivers more.

IT’s OUT!! Schumacher is the STIG!!!! 21st June 2009, on Top Gear, the Stig is finally unveiled as F1′s Michael Schumacher! The golden child of F1 graced the Top Gear set on Sunday night and finally reveled that he was in fact the tamed masked driver The Stig.

Michael Schumacher 2009 June The Stig Top Gear

Talking to Jeremy Clarkson (in a rather easy-jetesq orange blouse -how very masculine) on the Top Gear couch, Michael admitted that he in fact was the infamous Stig.

German born Michael Schumacher has won the F1 championship seven times and is hailed as one of the sport’s most statistically greatest diver of all time. Starting his career as part of Benetton saw him scoop his first two championship wins. His move to Ferrari in 1996 saw him engulf F1 with 5 consecutive wins from 2000-2004.

Michael Schumacher The Real Stig Identity 2009

Joking on the Top Gear couch, Schumacher jovially corrected Clarkson stating he is banned in 9 not 12 states, admitting that he only knows two facts about ducks and dodging the question if he really punched a horse in the face.

Michael Schumacher The Stig Top Gear June 2009

The show ended with the Stig doing a less than impressive lap on the Top Gear test track, with an amusing abysmal sub standard effort, which saw him make a meal out of the circuit and manual gear box, going down the wrong way and rearing off the race tripod before plummeting into a dazed and bewildered camera mans tripod! More Mr. Bean than Michael Schumacher.

This one kept us fully on the edge of our seats! Thump up to this on Top Gear!!!!

The brand new Formula One (F1) season is upon us. But new season means a new start. Find out what changes 2009 F1 has on Car Design, Broadcasting, Teams, Innovation and Championship Winners.

Car Design:

One of the main noticeable changes this season in F1 is the design of the new racing cars. The revised aerodynamic design of the F1 car, sees a more sleek and uncluttered features. The most significant changes are the narrow and taller rear spoiler and the slender more refined front nose of the car. 2009 also see the reintroduction of the Slick Tire, having been banned in 1998. Slick tires have been assessed to improve safety as more of the surface of the tire is in contact with the track therefore better for breaking. Drivers who opt for the slick tires will be able to be noticed with it trademark green rim, running on the outer edge of the tire.

Broadcasting:

After a 12 year hiatus, F1 returns back home to the BBC. The departure from ITV was due to an amalgamation of errors due to advertising breaks which most annoyingly for viewers meant missing out on iconic events such as, missed the moment that decided the world championship – Lewis Hamilton’s gearbox problem in Interlagos. Its arrival on the BBC means spectators will be able to enjoy every last of the tantalizing 60 laps, in all its glory without the interruptions of television commercials.

Teams:

One significant change to the teams this season in F1 is the introduction of the brand new team Brawn GP. The evolution of the Brawn GP team comes from the ashes of Honda’s withdrawal from all Formula One participations. Brawn GP is the brainchild of Ross Brawn a former Ferrari Technical Director, who set about the creation of the new team to secure jobs and continue the run in the F1. Brawn GP’s drivers are Honda’s Jenson Button and Brazilian F1 veteran Rubens Barichello. Virgin has become Brawn GP’s first official sponsor in the 11^thhour, with Richard Brandson securing the deal.

Championship Winner:

Another change which sparks the new dawn of Formula One is the way the championship winner is decided. This new system awards the championship to the driver who has the most victories, rather than the most accumulated points. If by the end of the season, top position is tied, then the driver with the most points will be determined the winner. It has been commented that this new method of scoring better reflects the true value of victory. To put into perspective, if this new method was applied to last season, then Hamilton would lose the championship to Felipe Massa, as he won the most races between them.

Innovation:

The level which a team can innovate technology for its cars has been significantly restricted with the new F1 2009 rules. There has been a voluntary budget cap of 30 million pounds (which is to include driver salaries) has been set to standardize the level and intensity a team can innovate and develop the performance of their cars. This will ultimately have a profound effect and handicap bigger teams such as Ferrari and McLaren. The cap is not a regulation, and because of this the FIA promises great technical freedom in 2010 to the teams who comply with the £30 million sanction. For the teams which choose to go over, they wi9ll be subject to technical restrictions. With the voluntary budget caps on the sport as a whole, some have questioned if F1 will continue to hold onto its innovative sports status.

Technology:

The Kinetic Energy Recovery System also known as KERS, is a new type of technology which can be found throughout all Formula One Cars this season. It works by storing the wasted energy used every time a driver breaks. The stored energy can be used at a simple push of button on each drivers steering wheel and can release up to 80 bhp, which can be used for overtaking, braking or a jump start at the beginning of a race. The KERS system must however be used tactically and at the right time by the drivers. A miscalculated application of the KERS technology may serve to hinder their performance as opposed to enhancing it.With all these changes made to F1, there are bound to be teething problems and possible upsets in the coming races of the 2009 season. Spectators, Fans and F1 Bosses alike will be anxiously and cautiously glued to the unfolding action to see the true effects the F1 changes has on the motoring sport as a whole.

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